The role of avoidance-based coping in the psychosocial functioning of weight loss treatment-seeking adults

The mediating role of depressive and anxiety symptoms in the association between obesity and problematic social media use in young adults

Background

Obesity has been associated with problematic internet use or internet use characterized by impulsivity, dependence, risk taking or impairment. Despite the unique affordances and growing popularity of social media, few studies have investigated obesity in relation to the problematic use of social media in contrast to general internet use.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between obesity and problematic social media use and to test symptoms of anxiety and depression as potential mediators of this relationship.

Methods

A cross‐sectional online survey was administered to young adults between the ages of 18–25 using the Qualtrics platform. Two mediation models were tested using model 4 of the PROCESS Macro in SPSS.

Results

Participants (n = 4939) were between the ages of 18–25 (M = 21.74, SD = 2.3). Participants were 50.6% female (n = 2496) and 58.1% White (n = 2871). Reporting obesity was positively associated with reporting increased levels of problematic social media use, B = 1.15, SE B = .32, t(1, 4938) = 3.59, p < .001. The indirect effects in each model from obesity to problematic social media use, through both symptoms of anxiety and depression separately, were significant, B = .14, SE B = .05, confidence interval [0.055, .231] and B = .16, SE B = .07, confidence interval [0.018, .317], respectively.

Conclusions

Young adults who present both with obesity and with symptoms of depression or anxiety are more at risk for problematic social media use. These patients may benefit from education on health‐promoting social media use.

Characteristics of adults with overweight/obesity and high internal disinhibition: do they fit with targets for acceptance-based interventions?

OBJECTIVE

Adults with overweight/obesity reporting high levels of internal disinhibition (ID) tend to do poorly in standard behavioural weight loss programmes. The current study sought to compare a sample of individuals with overweight/obesity selected on the basis of high ID with an unselected treatment-seeking sample of adults with overweight/obesity on characteristics that might make acceptance-based treatments particularly appropriate for those with high ID.

METHODS

Sample 1 included 162 treatment-seeking adults with overweight/obesity who were selected for high ID; sample 2 included 194 unselected treatment-seeking adults with overweight/obesity. First, the two samples were compared on levels of general and weight-related experiential avoidance, and values-consistent behaviour, both of which are targeted in acceptance-based treatments, and on other general psychological characteristics. Next, the unselected sample was split into two groups, those meeting criteria for high (N = 105; sample 2/high ID) vs. low (N = 89; sample 2/low ID) ID, and the three groups were compared on the same characteristics.

RESULTS

Sample 1 reported higher levels of both general and weight-related experiential avoidance as well as less values-consistent behaviour than sample 2. They reported greater psychological impairment in quality of life, depression and anxiety. Within sample 2, 54% met the criteria for high ID. Both sample 1 and sample 2/high ID reported higher levels of experiential avoidance and less values-consistent behaviour than did the sample 2/low ID. The two high ID samples also reported greater psychological impairment in quality of life, depression and anxiety than sample 2/low ID.

CONCLUSIONS

Adults with overweight/obesity who report high levels of ID were characterized by higher levels of experiential avoidance, lower levels of values-consistent behaviour, and more psychosocial impairment as compared with other adults with overweight/obesity. As these are important targets of acceptance-based approaches, this subgroup may benefit from the integration of such approaches into behavioural weight loss programmes.

The role of avoidance-based coping in the psychosocial functioning of weight loss treatment-seeking adults

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the role of avoidance‐based coping in the psychosocial functioning of weight loss treatment‐seeking persons with obesity who report high internal disinhibition.

Methods

Participants were 162 overweight or obese adults entering a behavioural weight loss intervention programme who reported high internal disinhibition at screening. We conducted multivariate regression analyses by using mental and physical quality of life and satisfaction with relationships as dependent variables and examining the association of demographic variables, experiential avoidance (avoidance‐based coping) and symptoms of depression. We hypothesized that higher levels of experiential avoidance and symptoms of depression would be associated with poorer mental and physical quality of life and relationship satisfaction. Post‐hoc analyses examined results relative to non‐obese norms.

Results

Both experiential avoidance and depression were significantly and independently associated with each of the three psychosocial outcome measures. Individuals who were high on both experiential avoidance and depression scored significantly below the population mean for non‐clinical samples on mental and physical quality of life and relationship satisfaction.

Conclusion

In a sample of weight loss treatment‐seeking adults with high internal disinhibition, elevated levels of experiential avoidance and psychological symptoms are prevalent. Adding intervention components specifically designed to address unhealthy coping could results in improvements in overall psychosocial functioning and possibly weight loss.